When we are talking about the cruising the first thing that comes to mind is the fact of travelling around several continents and getting acquainted with some exotic and unusual islands and countries. But when getting deep into the idea of cruising we discover that there is also a chance to cruise around the rivers. The only requirement is that the rivers need to be of big sizes. And you know what there are even a lot of advantages here.
The main charm of river cruises in the fact that even being on the water, you will not get too far from the shore, and therefore can admire the beautiful scenery and many small towns, not only during the stay in port. Even the city where you will be perpetrated to stop, is not going to be a port, giving a completely different feeling than the noisy and polyphonic coastal megacities.
Raine
Romantic cruise from Amsterdam to Basel will take you only 13 days, which is even less than 2 weeks. Perhaps this is the most famous of the river cruise itineraries. On the way, travelers will see Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland, enjoy the beauty and grandeur of Cologne and Strasbourg, enjoy the scenic valleys and castles of the Mosel, will acquire the wine routes in Germany. Let’s say that this will be a great acquaintance with the most interesting spots of the Europe.
Danube
If you do have enough time to go on a journey take it along the legendary Danube. Starting from Passau it will take up to 8 days time to reach the Black Sea and back, while on the road you will have a chance to enjoy Budapest, Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Belgrade.
Volga
For 12 days you can swim from Moscow to St. Petersburg and back, with a stop in Valle and Kizhi, visit the ancient Russian cities of Uglich, Yaroslyavlya, Myshkin. And the two capitals of Russia, of course, deserve special attention. If you have never traveled on a cruise – just go to start such a journey. This is going to be a non-typical way of getting introduced with Russia, as most of the time the tourism here has to do with travelling with a car.
Rhone
If you are having a trouble with the inspiration and your soul asks for romance and wine in unlimited quantities, the most suitable for you will be the cruise along the Rhone from Chalon-sur-Saone to Arles. In the 11-day trip you will fully be able to enjoy fine wines of Burgundy and gourmet cuisine of Provence. But at the same time you will also have a chance to make a few stops to see a lot of small French villages and try out the wine “cave”, which appears to have a large variety in all of those small towns and villages.
Yangtze
Cruises along the main river of China, through the Three Gorges area usually start in the town of Yichang, where the ferry takes the lucky tourists upriver. During the 12 days which is the typical duration for the journey, you’ll see a lot of natural and cultural attractions, and besides, look at the most ambitious hydroelectrostation of China Three Gorges. While sailing theship, the surrounding scenery is constantly changing. It starts with narrow stone walls of the gorge, the broad meadows, and sometimes even shifts with the citrus plantations. And by the way, do not be surprised when you will see crocodiles enjoying the river just the way you do: Chinese alligators are rare and endangered species.
Douro
This cruise will be appreciated by lovers of the port wine: tasting will be provided to the participants not only in Porto and Pinyane, but also on board. Comfortable boat with a small pool on the upper deck and a chef who knows what’s what in a good kitchen, for the entire week will take you from the port at Barca de Alva, stopping along the way in the old towns, where you can wander through the narrow streets and sit in cozy coffee shops . This is something close to so-called elite rest with the all right stops and tastes.
Irrawaddy
Burma Life flows on as usual without much change and turmoil for centuries. Military coups in no way changed the ways of the local life. Pagodas and Buddhist temples, standing along the river, will surely be found here, and several centuries later I guess. Those places that were inaccessible to tourists, can now be seen even when combining it with the country tour.
Mekong
One of the most exotic cruises in the yellow waters of the Mekong starts in Siem Reap and ends in Ho Chi Minh City. This tour will allow to rest for 8 days and at the same to see Vietnam and Cambodia.During the journey you have time to look into the numerous channels that make up the delta, see the coastal rice plantations and visit the floating markets and manufactures, but at the same time walk in a small town, where you will see the Asian way of life in a strange way adjacent to the French colonial legacy. And all of this is accompanied by excellent Vietnamese cuisine based on the freshest ingredients. I would say that the cuisine here is unforgettable.
Elba
Cruise for connoisseurs, you better start from Potsdam to Prague providing yourself an opportunity to explore the culture of the Czech Republic and Germany. Stopping in Dresden will see unique works of art and architecture of the East German city to admire the graceful Gothic cathedral Magdebura, look at the house of Martin Luther in Wittenberg, wander through one of the most beautiful castle in Europe, Miller, and finally plunge into the unique atmosphere of Prague.
Nile
Cruises on the Nile is one of the best selling opportunities in the world. Wishing to witness the ancient temples, Valley of the Kings and Aswan Dam is always not enough for the short landed trips. During the tour you can see almost all the major sights of the country that attracts tourists. And at the same time get more idea about the country and surely river cruising.
This post is contributed by Viking River Cruises
